Tube-cleaning device.



No. 708,200. Patented Sept. 2, i902,

J. S. BUSHNELL.

T'UBE CLEANING DEVICE.

(Applieltion filed Dec. 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

I INYENTOR i 0 I w" 0 & --BY ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BUSHNELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

TUBE-CLEANING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 708,200, dated September 2, 1902. Application filed December. 20, 1901. Serial No. 86,625. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BUSHNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the cityand State of New York, have invented'a certain new and useful improvement in the tube-cleaning devices sometimes known as soot-suckers for removing the ashes and soot which tend to accumulate in the interiors of the tubes of steam-boilers by inducing a strong current of air to flow through the tube, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is an improvement on that, set forth in the patent to Richard Thompson, dated August 15, 1893, No. 503,559.

The present invention: affords a very efficient and convenient method of removing? the fragments of rubber and other solid ma-. terial which are blown into the steam ring or belt which are of such size that they cannot be driven through the fine perforations. I provide for sending at intervals a very strong blast of steam throughthe steam-belt.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I con-' sider the best means of carrying out the in-' vention.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section' through my device and through the adjacent portion of a tubular steam-boiler with'which it is serving. Fig. 2shows the same removed from the boiler and conditioned'for cleaning by'blowing steam through it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures where they appear.

A is a tube, and A the tube-sheet.

B is the body of my device, B a tapering nozzle adapted to match into the end of the tube, and B the opposite nozzle.

B is the belt, which is filled with steam through a hollow handle B and from which it escapes with great force through a number of small perforations b, drilled orotherwise produced in the positions to discharge the steam-jetsinclined inward and upward. The jets draw the air along with it and induce the discharge of a current of air loaded with I "soot and mingled with steam when the device is in use by inducing a strong flow of air through the tube.

D is a removable plug tapped through a hole at in a sufficient boss to give ita firm support.

WVhen'it is inplace, as shown in Fig. 1, my soot-sucker is used with the same effect as in the Thompson patent above'referred to; but when through-any cause, as the inevitable gradual disintegration of the interior of the hose, allowing fragments of rubber and fiber to be carried along with the steam through then the steam is shut off by the attendant by the aid of a cock O in the handle, and the plugD is removed by unscrewing. Then the steam-cock C being again opened a strong blast of steam is sent through the device either in its position against the boiler or in any other position, carrying with it all the solid matter which has previously obstructed the holes, ejecting it through the aperture d. After a few seconds of this treatment the steam may be again shut off,"-the plug D restored, and the device is read y to serve again.

Modifications may be made without departingifrom the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Instead of a removable screw a cock may be used at the point D.

I claim as my invention In a tube-cleaner having the perforated belt 13 ,11, and provisions B for supplying steam under pressure thereto, a liberal orifice d in such belt and means for controlling it adapt ed to allow the blowing of steam forcibly through such belt past the smaller orifices b at intervals to clean the belt, all substan tially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. BUSHNELL. Witnessesz- M. F. BOYLE, J. B. OLAUTIoE.

the handle into the belt, and the inner ends ofsonie of the small perforations b are stopped, 

